Sauron, the Necromancer MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 5 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Legendary Creature — Avatar Horror |
Abilities | Menace |
Power | 4 |
Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Menace Whenever Sauron, the Necromancer attacks, exile target creature card from your graveyard. Create a tapped and attacking token that's a copy of that card, except it's a 3/3 black Wraith with menace. At the beginning of the next end step, exile that token unless Sauron is your Ring-bearer.
Cards like Sauron, the Necromancer
Exploring the depths of black mana’s potential, Sauron, the Necromancer, emerges as a potent force in the world of Magic: The Gathering. Its abilities resonate with the mechanics of other commanding necromantic cards yet hold distinct features. One can draw parallels with Liliana, Death’s Majesty, which similarly wields the power to create zombie tokens and ensures graveyard recursion. However, Sauron, the Necromancer, delivers a unique twist with its option to manipulate opponents’ graveyards as well.
Another noteworthy comparison can be made with Whisper, Blood Liturgist, which also thrives on sacrificing creatures for revival purposes. Whisper, however, instead of creating tokens, directly reanimates creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield. This can be a game-changing move, albeit more narrow in application compared to the broader control Sauron provides. On the other side, there is Rise of the Dark Realms, a spell that grandly resurrects all creatures from all graveyards, offering a potentially more dramatic swing but at a significantly higher mana cost than Sauron, the Necromancer.
These comparisons make it evident that Sauron stands as a versatile and strategic card choice for players who enjoy wielding the dark arts of necromancy in their decks, presenting a balance between token generation, graveyard manipulation, and enemy disruption.
Cards similar to Sauron, the Necromancer by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sauron, the Necromancer enables significant card advantage by allowing you to sift through your deck and potentially bring out powerful creatures or spells directly to the battlefield or into your hand. This not only increases the resources at your disposal but also pressures your opponents by expanding your threats.
Resource Acceleration: The necromantic prowess of this card aids in resource acceleration, as it can effectively reduce the mana costs of your other spells and abilities. This kind of acceleration is pivotal in outpacing your opponents and casting high-impact spells sooner than usual.
Instant Speed: Having abilities that can be activated at instant speed gives a strategic edge, allowing you to adapt to the evolving game state. It’s a tool for surprises and maneuvers that can evade your opponent’s predictions, making Sauron, the Necromancer a flexible and potentially game-changing card.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Drawing Sauron, the Necromancer requires you to discard another card, a demanding trade-off when your hand is already stretched thin.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands an exacting combination of mana types, forcing a commitment to a very specific mana base that may not align seamlessly with all deck strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment to summon Sauron is steep, presenting a strategic hurdle in tempo and potentially leaving you vulnerable while other options might conserve resources for additional plays.
Reasons to Include Sauron, the Necromancer in Your Collection
Versatility: Sauron, the Necromancer adds a layer of adaptability to your game, being a potentially game-altering card in various deck builds. Its ability to influence the board state resonates in multiple strategies, ranging from commander to cube formats.
Combo Potential: This dark entity offers outstanding synergy opportunities, seamlessly interfacing with decks that capitalize on graveyard manipulation or those seeking to exploit dark-themed archetypes for an edge in competition.
Meta-Relevance: With a shifting meta continually presenting new challenges, Sauron, the Necromancer remains a relevant choice. Its inherent strengths can offer significant advantages in matches, particularly in environments where control and superior tactics dictate the pace of play.
How to beat
Sauron, the Necromancer creates a challenging obstacle for players in the world of Magic: The Gathering. As a formidable force on the battlefield, its ability to orchestrate the flow of the game through graveyard manipulation and card advantage presents a significant threat. To overcome this dark sorcerer, a strategic approach is essential. Players can employ graveyard hate cards such as Rest in Peace or Tormod’s Crypt to negate the powerful reanimation tactics that Sauron leverages.
Applying pressure with aggressive creatures can disrupt your opponent’s plans, forcing them to deal with threats on the board rather than setting up their graveyard synergies. Additionally, spells that offer exile effects target the heart of Sauron’s strategy by removing key cards from the game entirely. Remember, knowing your opponent’s deck and anticipating their moves will give you the edge you need to dismantle the dark powers of Sauron, the Necromancer.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sauron, the Necromancer // Sauron, the Necromancer MTG card by a specific set like Tales of Middle-earth Art Series and The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Sauron, the Necromancer // Sauron, the Necromancer and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
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Printings
The Sauron, the Necromancer // Sauron, the Necromancer Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tales of Middle-earth Art Series | ALTR | 42 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | |||
2 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 106 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yongjae Choi | |
3 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 802 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Anato Finnstark | |
4 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 310 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Anato Finnstark | |
5 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 557 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yongjae Choi | |
6 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Promos | PLTR | 106s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yongjae Choi |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sauron, the Necromancer has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Alchemy | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sauron, the Necromancer card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2023-06-16 | If the card copied by the token had any "when -his permanent] enters the battlefield" abilities, then the token also has those abilities and will trigger them when it's created. Similarly, any "as -his permanent] enters the battlefield" or " -his permanent] enters the battlefield with" abilities that the token has copied will also work. |
2023-06-16 | If the exiled card has in its mana cost, X is 0. |
2023-06-16 | The delayed triggered ability will exile the token at the beginning of your next end step unless Sauron, the Necromancer is your Ring-bearer at the time that the ability resolves. If Sauron, the Necromancer leaves the battlefield before the delayed triggered ability resolves, that ability will exile the token, even if Sauron, the Necromancer later returns to the battlefield or you control another copy of Sauron, the Necromancer as your Ring-bearer. |
2023-06-16 | The token copies exactly what was printed on the original card and nothing else, except the characteristics it specifically modifies. It doesn't copy any information about the object the card was before it was put into your graveyard. |
2023-06-16 | The token is a Wraith instead of its other creature types (and other subtypes if it has any) and is black instead of its other colors. Its base power and toughness are 3/3. These are copiable values of the token that other effects may copy. |